At a Glance
- Zac Efron attended the Jan. 18 Patriots-Texans playoff at Gillette Stadium
- Posed for photos with team CEO Robert Kraft while wearing one of Kraft’s Super Bowl rings
- First public sighting since November when he cheered brother Dylan on Dancing With the Stars
- Why it matters: Rare celebrity appearance energizes fans and fuels speculation about Efron’s next project
Zac Efron stepped back into the spotlight Jan. 18, trading the High School Musical stage for the gridiron as he watched the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans in an NFL playoff showdown.
The Stadium Appearance
The 38-year-old actor hit the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., for a brief photo session with Patriots CEO Robert Kraft. In a post shared to X, Efron grinned beside the 84-year-old owner, slipping one of Kraft’s NFL championship rings onto his middle finger for the shot.
Efron wore the team’s signature navy and red, sporting a navy puffer coat with red zippers, a dark hoodie, and a matching beanie. The casual outfit kept him warm during the January night game while signaling his support for the home team.
First Public Outing in Two Months
The sports outing marked Efron’s first public appearance since late November. That month, he surprised audiences by walking into the Dancing With the Stars ballroom to support younger brother Dylan Efron, then competing on season 32 of the ABC series.
Dylan, 33, told James O Connor Fields at the time that having his famous sibling in the audience “meant everything.”
> “I grew up watching him do stuff like this, so the fact that he’s now watching me do this is crazy to me,” the Traitors winner said.
The Viral Scoreboard Moment
Cameras caught Zac’s puzzled reaction when judges awarded Dylan and pro partner Daniella Karagach a score of 27 out of 30. Viewers quickly turned the clip into a meme, interpreting his expression as confusion over whether the total was strong.
Dylan later clarified the moment during a December appearance on Sirius XM’s Smith Sisters Live. He said Zac actually praised the routine and simply asked if 30 was the maximum possible score.
> “He was like, ‘Is that the highest score they would give?'” Dylan recalled. “But it was funny regardless because Zac got defensive. He was like, ‘No, they misinterpreted what I meant!'”
What’s Next for Efron
Neither Efron nor his representatives have announced upcoming film or television projects. The Patriots game sighting offers fans a rare glimpse of the actor, who has kept a low profile since promoting his 2023 survival thriller Gold.
Key Takeaways
- Zac Efron attended the Patriots-Texans playoff, posing with Robert Kraft and wearing a Super Bowl ring
- The appearance ends a two-month public hiatus following his DWTS cameo for brother Dylan
- Dylan defended Zac after a viral moment misread the actor’s reaction to a judges’ score
- Efron’s next professional move remains unannounced, leaving fans watching for updates
